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Type an entry for each Element of Thought, saving each one after you enter it. Mouse-over SHOW PROBLEM to clear the page and return to the problem you are analyzing.

Identify... Purpose

My purpose in addressing the problem is… Know exactly what you are after. Make sure you are not operating with a hidden agenda and that your announced and real purposes are the same.

The key question that emerges from the problem is… State the question as clearly and precisely as you can. Details are very important.

About... Questions

Primary standards: 1 clarity and precision, 2 significance, 3 answerability,
4 relevancePrinciple: To settle a question, it must be answerable, and you must be clear about it and understand what is needed to adequately answer it.

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State the Question

The question lays out the problem or issue and guides our thinking. When the question is vague, our thinking will lack clarity and distinctness.

The question should be clear and precise enough to productively guide our thinking. Questions which target the question

What is the question I am trying to answer?

What important questions are embedded in the issue?

Is there a better way to put the question?

Is this question clear? Is it complex?

I am not sure exactly what question you are asking. Could you explain it?

Principle: Reasoning can only be as sound as the information upon which it is based.

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Element: InformationAll reasoning is based on DATA, INFORMATION and EVIDENCE.

Restrict your claims to those supported by the data you have.

Search for information that opposes your position as well as information that supports it.

Make sure that all information used is clear, accurate and relevant.

Make sure you have gathered sufficient information.

Gather... Information

Information includes the facts, data, evidence, or experiences we use to figure things out. It does not necessarily imply accuracy or correctness.

The information you use should be accurate and relevant to the question or issue you are addressing. Questions which target information

What information do I need to answer this question?

What data are relevant to this problem?

Do we need to gather more information?

Is this information relevant to our purpose or goal?

On what information are you basing that comment?

What experience convinced you of this? Could your experience be distorted?

How do we know this information (data, testimony) is accurate?

Have we left out any important information that we need to consider?

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Identify...Interpretations and Inferences

In reasoning through the problem, as you consider the important information relevant to the question, you will make multiple inferences. Finally, you will need to come to a conclusion (and then act on that conclusion). Your conclusion is your main inference. Complete this piece last and write out your main inferences as well as your final conclusion or decision.

Inferences are interpretations or conclusions you come to. Inferring is what the mind does in figuring something out.
Inferences should logically follow from the evidence. Infer no more or less than what is implied in the situation. Questions to check your inferences

What conclusions am I coming to?

Is my inference logical?

Are there other conclusions I should consider?

Does this interpretation make sense?

Does our solution necessarily follow from our data?

How did you reach that conclusion?

What are you basing your reasoning on?

Is there an alternative plausible conclusion?

Given all the facts what is the best possible conclusion?

How shall we interpret these data?

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Element: Interpretation and InferenceAll reasoning contains INFERENCES or INTERPRETATIONS by which we draw CONCLUSIONS and give meaning to data.

Infer only what the evidence implies.

Check inferences for their consistency with each other.

Identify assumptions underlying your inferences.

Identify... Concepts

The most important concepts, theories, or ideas I need to use in my thinking
are… Figure out all significant ideas needed to understand and solve the problem. You may need to analyze these concepts. Use a good dictionary.

About... Concepts

Primary standards: 1 clarity, 2 relevance, 3 depth, 4 accuracyPrinciple: Reasoning can only be as clear, relevant, realistic and deep as the concepts which shape it.

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Clarify Your... Concepts

Concepts are ideas, theories, laws, principles, or hypotheses we use in thinking to make sense of things.
Be clear about the concepts you are using and use them justifiably. Questions you can ask about concepts

What idea am I using in my thinking? Is this idea causing problems for me or for others?

I think this is a good theory, but could you explain it more fully?

What is the main hypothesis you are using in your reasoning?

Are you using this term in keeping with established usage?

What main distinctions should we draw in reasoning through this problem?

What idea is this author using in his or her thinking?
Is there a problem with it?

Some important assumptions I am using in my thinking are… Figure out what you are taking for granted. Watch out for self-serving or unjustified assumptions.

About... Assumptions

Primary standards: 1 clarity, 2 justifiability, 3 consistency Principle: Reasoning can only be as sound as the assumptions on which it is based.

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Check Your... Assumptions

Assumptions are beliefs you take for granted. They usually operate at the subconscious or unconscious level of thought.
Make sure that you are clear about your assumptions and they are justified
by sound evidence. Questions you can ask about assumptions

What am I assuming or taking for granted?

Am I assuming something I shouldn’t?

What assumption is leading me to this conclusion?

What is… (this policy, strategy, explanation) assuming?

What exactly do sociologists (historians, mathematicians, etc.) take for granted?

What is being presupposed in this theory?

What are some important assumptions I make about my roommate, my friends, my parents, my instructors, my country?

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Element: AssumptionsAll reasoning is based on ASSUMPTIONS.

Clearly identify your assumptions and determine whether they are justifiable.

Consider how your assumptions are shaping your point of view.

Identify the... Implications and Consequences

If we solve, or fail to solve this problem, some important implications are… Evaluate options, taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of possible decisions before acting. What consequences are likely to follow from this or that decision?

About... Implications

Primary standards: 1 significance, 2 logicalness, 3 clarity, 4 precision, 5 completness
Principle: To reason well through an issue, you must think through the implications that follow from your reasoning. You must think through the consequences likely to flow from the decisions you make.

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Think Through the... Implications and Consequences

Implications are claims or truths that logically follow from other claims or truths. Implications follow from thoughts. Consequences follow from actions.
Implications are inherent in your thoughts, whether you see them or not. The best thinkers think through the logical implications in a situation before acting.

Questions you can ask about implications

If I decide to do “X”, what things might happen?

If I decide not to do “X”, what things might happen?

What are you implying when you say that?

What is likely to happen if we do this versus that?

Are you implying that…?

How significant are the implications of this decision?

What, if anything, is implied by the fact that a much higher percentage of poor people are in jail than wealthy people?

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Element: ImplicationsAll reasoning leads somewhere or has IMPLICATIONS and CONSEQUENCES.

Trace the implications and consequences that follow from your reasoning.

Search for negative as well as positive implications.

Consider all possible consequences.

Identify... Point of View

The point(s) of view is/are as follows: Know the point of view from which your thinking begins. Be especially careful to determine whether multiple points of view are relevant.

Point of view is literally “the place” from which you view something.
It includes what you are looking at and the way you are seeing it.
Make sure you understand the limitations of your point of view and that you fully consider other relevant viewpoints.Questions to check your point of view

How am I looking at this situation? Is there another way to look at it that I should consider?

What exactly am I focused on? And how am I seeing it?

Is my view the only reasonable view? What does my point of view ignore?

Have you ever considered the way ____(Japanese, Muslims, South Americans, etc.) view this?

Which of these possible viewpoints makes the most sense given the situation?

Am I having difficulty looking at this situation from a viewpoint with which I disagree?

What is the point of view of the author of this story?

Do I study viewpoints that challenge my personal beliefs?

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Element: Point Of ViewAll reasoning is done from some POINT OF VIEW.

Identify your point of view.

Seek other points of view and identify their strengths as well as weaknesses.